Injuries to star players have flipped the odds in favor of the Denver Broncos in their Thursday night matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Despite coming off an ugly loss, the Broncos are now favored to win by a field goal as the Saints will be without their starting quarterback and several key offensive weapons. Denver sees this game as an opportunity to get back above .500 and potentially springboard to a 5-3 record before hitting a tougher stretch of their schedule.
The importance of this game is highlighted by ESPN’s FPI, which gives the Broncos a 24.5% chance of making the playoffs. Bookies have the Broncos’ playoff chances set at +250, indicating Vegas still believes they have a shot at turning their season around.
The game will also mark Sean Payton’s return to Louisiana, where he coached the Saints for 15 years and led them to a Super Bowl win. Drew Brees, who played under Payton for most of his career, will be honored at halftime as he is inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.
This will be the 12th matchup between the Broncos and Saints, with Denver holding a 9-3 advantage in their all-time record. The Broncos will have a mini-bye week ahead as they host the Panthers at home. Despite the odds being in their favor, the Broncos are not taking the Saints lightly and will be looking to capitalize on their injury-riddled opponent to secure a much-needed victory.
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